Wedding Weekend!!

Well, as most of you know...this past weekend my sister, Gina got married!!! Friday morning I set out to Freeport to meet my sister, BIL, and nieces and then it was on to Biloxi! After arriving we had a couple of hours to rest before the rehearsal and after that it was on to the Biloxi Yaucht Club for dinner.

 It was a gorgeous view and I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures of it. It was a beautiful 3 story building right on the water with glass windows overlooking the water and a nice pool too! The food was DELISH although I left reaking of garlic (but it was worth it)!! Afterwards a few of us went to Margaritaville (which happened to be connected to a casino). We sat out on the back deck (which was about 1/2 the size of a football field) and listened to music. After freezing our booties off, myself, my SIL, and another bridesmaid decided to go inside the casino. I've never played slot machines but thought I'd just try it out once. I put in my $20 and literally the second pull on the slot machine, I won $40!! After that, I was done! :)

We got back to the apartment about 1 a.m., and stayed up talking with my sister Gina, other sister Lisa, and BIL for a while before it was off to bed. Saturday morning my sweet BIL went and got Dunkin Donuts coffee (and donuts), and just chilled for a few hours

before heading to the base (which is also where the reception was held). We did hair, makeup, played games,

got dressed, and then...it was time to head to the chapel! The ceremony was at 7:30 p.m. and was a catholic mass so we didn't get over to the reception until about 9:30. The reception was beautiful, delicious, and tons of fun! We all danced the night away, laughed, reminisced, and ate! The reception ended at 1 a.m. and then it was back to the apartment we headed! It was a rushed weekend but one full of memories, laughter, and love! Here are some of my favorite pics!

 My dad and I at the reception!

 My sister Lisa and I in the "dressing room"

 My sweet (and pregnant) SIL, Becca!!

Texas Part III

She is the sweetest, cuddliest baby ever! We'd be playing on the floor and she'd stop, walk over to me, and just hug on me! So stinkin' sweet!

She's ready for our afternoon walk!

Amy and I waiting for the Running of the Bulls leisurely walking of the longhorns!

Here they are!!

Late night Froyo trip!

Amy, Shelby, and the Chin girls!

Saying our goodbyes!

Texas Part II

After the stockyards we went and met another friend of ours at an outlet mall (can't go wrong there). Katie grew up in the same church as Amy and I and when we were younger we were inseparable...literally, so it was great getting to see her. Amy wanted to buy some new clothes that didn't scream "mommy" and Katie and I were glad to assist. We took turns asking, "does this look ok?" "are these jeans too tight?!" and "should I get this?!" All in all, the day was a success for everyone involved and I must give some serious props to that sweet Aubrey who was SUCH a trooper, considering we were on the go constantly! After some serious shopping we went back to the house, visited some more, and then got pizza. Of course no day is complete without a late night run to Target (and to get some more froyo)! Saturday we went to a nearby lake with Amy and Paul's small group and just enjoyed the company, scenery, and sun! Later that afternoon we went back to the house, showered up, and headed to their church, which was AMAZING!! The preacher spoke straight from the word, the sermon wasn't topical, but biblical and the music was AWESOME! It was definitely a great end to a great trip, with great people! 

Texas Part 1

Well, as most of you know, last Wednesday I flew out to Dallas, Texas to visit my friend Amy, her husband Paul, and their sweet, sweet baby girl Aubrey! From the time my feet his the Texas soil, we didn't stop. Wednesday night Amy, Aubrey, and I went and met Paul at my favorite, Chipotle prior to small group. To be honest, I was kind of nervous about going and meeting new people but I can't tell you enough how sweet and genuine these couples were. We returned to the house around 10pm and Amy and I stayed up until almost 2am catching up. Needless to say we both regretted that decision the next morning when Aubrey was up and at 'em at 7! Thursday we took our time getting ready, headed out to a mall (one of about 40 in the area), stopped and got some frozen yogurt, and then headed home to meet Paul and rest for the remainder of the night. Friday was probably my favorite day (Saturday was a close second). Amy, Aubrey, and I headed to the Fort Worth Stockyards. This place was what I had pictured Texas looking like. It had cobblestone roads, stores filled with boots and cowboy hats, and the smell of manure (which I totally could've done without). Amy had told me prior that twice a day they clear the main road and have longhorns parade through the streets (now imagine my surprise when this wasn't at all like the Running of the Bulls-which is what I had pictured in my head the whole time)...no, there were about 15 of them just leisurely walking at their own pace but nonetheless, it was totally worth the drive and gave me my "Texas experience" (plus I got to see where the Bachelor was filmed last season)!

Birmingham Blessings!

A few weeks ago, a dear friend of mine asked if I would like to come up to Birmingham and spend time with her and her kids while her husband was out of town on business. Jaime and I were trying to do the math this weekend and figure out how long we've known each other (5 years in case you're wondering), but needless to say when she invited me, I didn't hesitate to say yes! It doesn't matter how much time has passed, we always pick up right where we left off and this weekend was no different. We spent countless hours just sitting and talking about our dreams, God, her kids, our families, and everything else in between. Here are just a few pictures to highlight the wonderful weekend we had together!

Saturday evening we enjoyed a nice pizza picnic in the back yard!

We rode these down the hill over and over...and over and over...

Tyson and I resting after he convinced me to play soccer in the heat of the day!

One of us learned how to drive (well, not really but she was all about sitting in my car)!

Peyton asked me to paint her fingernails and toe nails! How cute is she?!
Needless to say this weekend was jam packed with fun, talking, love, excitement, joy, and laughter! These 3 kids and Jaime are such a blessing to me, I always look forward to the next time I get to see them and can't for more weekends like this! They are my Birmingham blessings!

Georgia Peaches...kinda!

Well, as most of you have seen by the pictures I've been posting, I went with some other girls to Savannah, GA for my friend Megan's Bachelorette weekend. Even though I've known Megan since Middle School, it wasn't until we were in college when we really got close. Megan is one of friends that always has your back, listens with an open mind, judges no one, and has a heart of gold and I mean GOLD! Although we don't see each other as often because she is in Med School at FSU, we try to see each other every time she comes in town and trust me when I say, we NEVER run out of things to talk about! (hard to imagine, huh)?! Anyways, Friday morning my friend Katie and I set out to pick up Megan from Tallahassee and on we went to Savannah. Friday night we met the other 5 girls at the hotel, changed and set out for dinner at Tapas. I LOVED the atmosphere at this place and the food wasn't bad either. After dinner we decided to go back to the hotel since it was already getting late and let Megan open her lingerie gifts and then I hit they sack (I had been sick last week and knew I should forego social hour to try and get some good rest so I'd be ready for the following day and it worked...Saturday I felt like a new woman). So Saturday we got up and ate some delicious food that one of the girls had brought along, got ready and hit the town. We first made our way down to Bay Street to go in the touristy shops and then it was on to Paula Deen's for some down home cookin' y'all! The peach cobbler was to DIE FOR!! After being rolled out of PD's we then made our way into some more shops and finally decided to take a carriage tour through the historic district of Savannah. We had walked so much that morning we all thought our legs were going to fall off. Our tour guide was gracious enough to offer to take us back to our hotel so we wouldn't have to walk back which we all were SOOOO grateful for. After returning to the hotel we decided to snack/watch My Best Friend's Wedding/rest/get ready for the night ahead. We later set out to have dinner at this place called Rocks on the Rooftop and it was GORGEOUS and awesome all at the same time! I can't even describe the beautiful view! After dinner we decided to head down to a Chocolate Bar (need I say more?!) which was also WONDERFUL! We piddled around a little after that, ran into some interesting people, saw some interesting things, and then headed back to the hotel. The next morning my friend Katie and I got up and got packed before everyone else so we decided to walk down a few blocks to the cutest, quaintest coffee shop for some breakfast and then it was on the road to head home! This weekend we made new friendships, strengthened existing ones, experienced new things together, laughed, talked, slept, talked, shopped, talked, well...you get the point! Here's to celebrating Megan and the wonderful guy, Cameron's marriage and the beautiful people they are!